Dunleavy signs three as state campaign co-chairs

Gubernatorial candidate Mike Dunleavy has named three campaign co-chairs: Dick Randolph of Fairbanks, Kristie Babcock of Kenai, and John Moller of Juneau.

“I am honored that these distinguished Alaskans have stepped forward to offer their experience, knowledge, and leadership skills to help advance my campaign,” said Dunleavy. “I couldn’t ask for a better mix of experience in business, politics, and knowledge of Alaska’s diverse communities than Dick Randolph, John Moller, and Kristie Babcock. All three share my strong commitment to bring back economic prosperity for the people of Alaska, to protect the Permanent Fund, and to ensure our state government abides by Constitutional principles.”

Randolph is a business owner and former state lawmaker from Fairbanks, who has worked as a school teacher, miner, and a commercial fisherman in Bristol Bay. Randolph ran as a Libertarian candidate for Governor in 1982, and as a Republican primary candidate for Governor in 1986. He is known as the “Father of the Income Tax Repeal,’ since he spearheaded the successful effort to repeal the state income tax in 1979-80.

John Moller is a Juneau commercial fisherman and former Dutch Harbor crab boat skipper. Moller served nearly six years as senior rural affairs advisor under Gov. Sean Parnell. He also served as the general manager of a community development quota (CDQ) group for more than a decade, working from Adak to Nome, and Juneau to Washington, D.C. Moller is a partner with Parnell in Navigate North Consultants, providing executive leadership and public policy advice for businesses, local governments and non-profits. He owns his own consulting business, providing advice on matters related to rural and Arctic Alaska. Moller is married with four children.

Kristie Babcock is a business owner and soccer mom from Kenai. Raised in Anchorage, she has also lived in Wasilla, Juneau, Ninilchik and Soldotna. Babcock served as director of Boards and Commissions for Gov. Frank Murkowski and for Gov. Walter Hickel, managing and advising on gubernatorial appointments to the state’s 150 boards and commissions, judicial appointments, and exempt state positions. She was the youngest member of Gov. Hickel’s senior staff (1991-1994). Babcock served on the 2004 Conference of Alaskans, a group of 55 Alaskans convened to discuss the state’s budget challenges, where she stood out as an unwavering defender of the Permanent Fund dividend.

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Suzanne Downing had careers in business and journalism before serving as the Director of Faith and Community-based Initiatives for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and returning to Alaska to serve as speechwriter for Gov. Sean Parnell. Born on the Oregon coast, she moved to Alaska in 1969.

Latest comments

Donald Smith/May 17, 2018

This is a dumb move by Dunleavy. As anyone who has had a leadership position knows, shared responsibility is no responsibility. At the first internal dispute we’ll discover who of the three co-chairs has true authority. This is a symptom of poor organizational skills. Probably attempting to make everyone happy and this will end-up making nobody but the one with the strongest personality happy. This is something I expect from Walker who has gotten in bed with every left leaning organization.

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Edward Martin Jr/May 17, 2018

Don you must have never served in the military and have no understanding of chain of command whereas Mike is the General with Command & All Responsibility for his Lieutenant(s). Your comment has no recognition for proper structure just a ego based authority! You are right about Walker and that is why we want him gone. You don’t know how these people think, so keep spouting off it will make you look like a fool.

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Donald Smith/May 17, 2018

Mr. Martin, I was an officer in the United States Army and an accomplished executive in private life. I know a thing or two about leadership and the chain of command. To your point, a leader has many lieutenants, and properly done, each with discrete responsibility and accountability. However, having three lieutenants with the same title smacks of shared responsibility. Perhaps Dunleavy will further delineate individual responsibility and accountability for his three co-chairs at a future date. Or, perhaps in the haste to bring these people onto the team not much thought was given to titles and responsibility. We will learn more about Mr. Dunleavy’s organizational skills as time goes on.

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Edward Martin Jr/May 18, 2018

Don your “at ease” response to my comment is welcome as his mission is what is most important not egos of anyone in his campaign..get on board if you want a realistic future of Alaska. Question in your mind what creates new wealth and whom creates it in the future of Alaska?

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Not Tall/May 22, 2018

Hopefully Mr. Dunleavy will hire someone who has the nerve to let him know his “standing tall for Alaska…” campaign slogan is a real diss. Just because a person is tall is no indication that they are a leader or a person to be chosen to anything. Short people are insulted by his implied suggestion that we should vote for him because he is tall. If he wants votes, he should bend down and do some listening to the majority of Alaska residents.